poleaxe

[ pohl-aks ]

noun

poleaxed poleaxingplural: poleaxes [pohl, -ak-siz],

1. variant of poleax.

poleaxe

/ ˈpəʊlˌæks /

noun

1. another term for battle-axe
2. a former naval weapon with an axe blade on one side of the handle and a spike on the other
3. an axe used by butchers to slaughter animals

verb

1. tr to hit or fell with or as if with a poleaxe

Word History and Origins

Origin of poleaxe¹

C14 pollax battle-axe, from poll + axe

Example Sentences

The quartos have 'pollax,' the two earliest folios read 'Pollax,' the third 'Polax,' the fourth 'Poleaxe.'

From Project Gutenberg

And in this way I suppose you larned how to chop with your little poleaxe.

From Project Gutenberg

The Constable wore gilt armour and a plumed helmet, and bore a poleaxe in his hands.

From Project Gutenberg

Wretched brutes there at the cattlemarket waiting for the poleaxe to split their skulls open.

From Project Gutenberg

What th' butcher done I dinnaw; but annyhow they accused him iv wantin' to poleaxe th' governmint; an' they thrun him into a cell.

From Project Gutenberg